But we do share the concerns raised by Sen. "Mar" Roxas, and we assure him that the payback on economic reforms is already here, in terms of the multibillion pump-priming program as well as the larger, strategic programs to fight hunger and poverty. The Arroyo administration is combining immediate relief measures and long-gestating initiatives to jumpstart jobs, lower the cost of food, increase access to cheap quality medicine and health insurance, broaden education and housing opportunities and expanding infrastructure inroads to push productivity.

Examples of these priority programs are the "rice and noodle" stores which will make available these two basic commodities at affordable prices. In addition, a massive program to make available the four most needed medicines at half their 2001 prices is in the works.

In education, the government’s priority would be to close the school buildingclassroom gap in the elementary level. In the secondary level, the thrust would be the issuance of ‘education vouchers’ which would enable excess public high students to enroll in private high schools.

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The reported moves of the local government authorities to gather millions of signatures in support of Charter change should be welcomed as a constructive democracy exercise in support of overall political reform and change.

Indeed, the whole Filipino nation must participate in Charter change and thereby help shape our collective future. As the Consultative Commission had already accomplished its goal, and Congress gears for more debates and consultations on the Constitution, this is a new front of popular participation that will enrich the debates and enlarge the arena of political change and transformation.

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I was recently asked by Mons Romulo Tantoco, daughter of Secretary Bert Romulo, regarding my thoughts on what each Filipino can do to contribute to our country’s development. I would like to share with you some thoughts that came to mind after I replied to Mons’ query. In his book "Success One Day at a Time," renowned motivational author and speaker John Maxwell wrote that "to be succesful, you don’t need to be lucky or rich. But you do need to know this: You are what you do daily. You first form your habits; then your habits form you. It is just as easy to form habits of success as it is to form habits of failure. Every day you live, you are in the process of becoming. Whether you are becoming better or worse depends on what you give yourself to."

Many other speakers have their own takes on this themes. Who hasn’t heard of Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People? Indeed, habits are what we do with such regularity that they become second nature to us.

The beginning of the new year gives us all a clean slate and fresh start to form our own "national habits" that should propel us in the right direction: Simple habits like obeying the law, working diligently, thinking of the common good before thinking of ourselves. Each day, we must challenge ourselves to do better than yesterday, and still better tomorrow. The success of our country does not depend on government alone, but on each of us pitching in according to our own talents and capabilities.

Certain nations are known for certain collective or shared traits. For example, the Germans are considered sticklers for discipline and efficiency, while the Japanese culture is anchored on respect for elders and superiors. As we do our own soul-searching as a people, may we re-discover our bayanihan spirit and other traits that we do possess but may have momentarily disregarded in this rat race called life.

Note: Past articles may be viewed at http://www.news.ops.gov.ph/palace_bunye.htm